The idle is sitting higher than the ECU wants — usually a vacuum leak.
P0507 — also written PO5O7, P 0507, 0507 — is the OBD-II code for idle air control system rpm higher than expected. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
Your engine is 'racing' at idle because it’s sucking in air it hasn't accounted for, common as muck on high-mileage VAG and Vauxhall petrols. Usually means there's a hole in a pipe or a gummed-up butterfly valve.
P0507 is a fuel & air fault code, typically costing £50–£350 to put right in a UK garage.
What P0507 actually feels like to drive
- The car feels like it's 'creeping' forward too fast at traffic lights without touching the gas.
- Engine revs stay hung up at 1200rpm when you dip the clutch approaching an intersection.
- A noticeable 'hissing' or whistling noise from the engine bay when idling on the driveway.
- The stop-start system has stopped working because the idle isn't stable enough for the ECU.
- Surging or 'hunting' revs when you first start it from cold in the morning.
What causes P0507?
- Vacuum leak (intake hose, PCV)
- Carbon-fouled throttle body
- Failed idle control valve (older cars)
- Sticking throttle plate
UK vehicles that throw P0507 most often
- Vauxhall Astra J / Insignia 1.4 Turbo (A14NET) 2010-2015
- Volkswagen Golf/Leon 2.0 TFSI (EA113/EA888) 2005-2014
- BMW 3 Series (E90/F30) 318i/320i N43 engines
- Ford Fiesta 1.25 / 1.4 Zetec (Sigma engine) 2008-2017
- Nissan Qashqai 1.6 HR16DE 2007-2013
- Mini Cooper R56 (N12/N16 engines) 2006-2013
How P0507 is fixed
- Smoke-test intake
- Clean throttle body
- Replace PCV valve / rocker cover
- Inspect all vacuum hoses
The P0507 misdiagnosis that wastes money
I see boys ordering a brand new throttle body or idle valve the second they see this code, wasting £150 plus VAT for nothing. Nine times out of ten on a modern petrol, the fault isn't the throttle at all—it’s the PCV system. On the Vauxhall 1.4 turbos or the BMW N-series engines, the diaphragm in the rocker cover splits. This lets unmetered air into the intake, and the ECU can’t drag the revs down far enough to compensate. You're replacing a £400 throttle when you needed a £120 rocker cover assembly.
What a UK garage should charge for P0507
Most decent indy garages will charge 1 hour of diagnostic time—roughly £60 to £90 depending on where you are—to smoke test it and find the leak. If it’s just a gummed-up throttle body, a proper clean and reset is about £100. If you need a new PCV valve or a rocker cover (common on Vauxhalls), expect to pay £200 to £350 including parts and labour. Generic 'no-name' parts from eBay are rubbish here; stick to Bosch, Febi Bilstein, or Genuine OE if you don't want the light back on in a fortnight.
P0507 repair cost in the UK
Most P0507 repairs land between £50–£350 including parts and labour. The spread is wide because the cheap fix (a sensor, a hose, a leak) and the expensive fix (a major component) throw the same code — which is why a proper diagnosis before parts are bought saves the most money.
Bob's tip on P0507
Before you let a garage swap any parts, ask them: "Have you done a smoke test on the intake?" If they say no, walk away. A smoke machine—we use a Sealey unit—is the only way to find those tiny hairline cracks in a plastic manifold or a perished vacuum hose tucked behind the block. Also, if they clean your throttle body, insist they perform a 'throttle position relearn' with a proper diagnostic tool like a Snap-on or Autel. If they just spray carb cleaner and send you off, the idle will stay high because the ECU still thinks it's fighting through the old carbon build-up.
Can you drive with P0507?
Yes — but expect rough cold idle, possible stalling and slightly worse MPG.
Urgency: low.